Pattern mechanism for knitting machines



M. C. MILLER PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed April 5, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jauenyian' M. C. MILLER PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 75 Original Filed April 5, 19 21 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a; a2 7 El +77 J az i I E C! J II E :1 I \j 15 cular knitting machines suclf'as' are used Patented Dec. 16, 1924. I I v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX 0. M ILLER, OF CUMBERLAND KILL, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR 1'0 JENCKES KNITTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, CORPQRA'TION or anonn rsnnma.

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR xm'rrrne monmns.

. Original application filed April 5, 1921 Serial Ko. 458,640. Divided and this application filed May 27,

To all it may, concern Be it known that 1, MAX

citizen of. Germany, residing at 'Cumber-' Pattern Mechanism for Knitting Machines;.

' and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, .such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, y The invention relates to pattern mechanism for circular knittingmachines; I The operation of the various parts of cirfor knittingseamless hosiery is usually controlled by a pattern-mechanism which con trols. or dictates the throwing into and out of operation of various needle operatingdevices, the operation of the; yarn carriers in'changing and feedingthe yarns, and the changes in the motion of the rotary needle or cam cylinder.

It is the object of the present invention 13) provide a simple and efiicient construction of pattern mechanism for this type of machine which not only insures the uniform and proper control of parts but also permits a compact arrangement of the controlling cams about the drum or shaft on which they aremounted with a corresponding reduction in the size of thedrum and in the idle movements imparted thereto. It is a further object of the invention toprovide for the ready removal and replacement of cams which usuall require replacement or refitting in setting up the machine for certain classes of work or for changing it for different kinds of work;

To these ends the invention comprises the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown inth'e accompanying drawings em sion.

In,the drawings Fig. 1 is a side eleva-.

tion showing so much of the knitting ma- 1922. Serial No. 564,209.

chine as is necessary to illustrate the.ap--

glication of the present invention thereto,

ig. 2 is an elevation looking toward-the right in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a central section through the pattern cam shaft and Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the pattern cam shaft.

In the drawings the needle cylinder which forms the rotary element of the knitting head 2. The cylinder is rotated and reciprocated throu 11 motion changing mechanism which may e constructed as shown in'the is indicated diagrammatically at above application or may be of any well known construction. This mechanism 7 1nclu des arotarypinion 4 and a similar oscillatingpimon arranged in axlal almement therewith. The pinion 4 engagesa gear 6 provided with a crank 8 connected by link 10 with the segment'12which engages and oscillates the oscillating pinion. The needle cylinder is driven from one -or the other ofthe pinions through a beveled gear 1-1 engaging a similar gear 16 on the lower end of a shaft 18, the upper end of which carries a gear 20 engaging a gear 22 connected with the lower end of the needle cyl inder.- A clutch (not shown) operated by the. pattern mechanism connects one or the other ofthe pinions with the gear 14 to rotate or oscillate the needle cylinder.

The cams and devices for controlling and dictatin the mac ineare. carried on a pattern shaft- 24 which is intermittently advanced at] in changes during the operation of tervals during the knitting through a ratchet wheel 59 secured to the end of the shaft. The ratchet Wheel is provided" with teeth whichare engaged at intervals byan actuating pawl 61 mounted on a pawl-carrying lever 62 and forced in a. direction to engage the ratchet 'by -a spring 63. The pawl is normally held out of action by a v latch 6a pivoted on the pawl-carrying lever and arranged \to hook over a lug 65 on the side of the awl. The latch is disengaged to render t e pawl active at suitable in: tervals by a lever 66 one end of which is varranged to overlie the tail of the latch and t e otherend of which is arranged in the path of a series of lugs 67 on a pattern chain 68. A spring 69 connects the latch and its controlling lever, and tends to hold :the latch in engagement with the lug 65 and to hold the lever in normal positionwith an arm 70 on the lever in engagement with a fixed stop 71.

. The teeth on the ratchet 59 are of different' lengths and the engagement of" the actuating pawl with the proper tooth when ratchet wheel and engaged by a'bearing piece 7 5 which is adjustably secured on the end of the guard lever. The lever is held in engagement with the cam by a spring 75 and the cam-is so shaped that at each forward movement of the ratchet wheel the guard is properly positioned to insure the engagement of the pawl with the succeeding tooth when the pawl is next rendered.

active. In orderto insure the proper timed relation between the patternchain and pattern "shaft and to automatically restore the timed-relation in case it is unintentionally disturbed, as in hand manipulation of the machine, the cam 74 is provided at one point with an abnormally low part, as at 76, which will'so position theguard that engagement of the pawl with the'tooth of the ratchet wheel next to be engaged will be prevented unless the guard is otherwise positioned to permit engagement of the tooth 'by the pawl. The guard is thus positioned by a timing or re-timing mechanism, comprising a lever 7 7, the upper end of which is arranged to engage a 'pin 78 projecting from the guard lever, and the lower end of which is arranged atone side.

of the lbwer end of the pawl releasin lever 66 and in the path of a single broad ug 67 on the pattern chain. If the chain and shaft are in proper time, the low point 76 on the cam 74 is brought into register with the contactpiece on the guard lever by the "engagement of the actuating pawl with the tooth corresponding to the lug 67 next preceding the broad lug 67 on the pattern chain. When the pawl is to engage the next tooth the broad lug releases the pawl and at the same time the broad lug actuates the lever 77 to so position the guard 72 that the pawl will engage the tooth and advance the pattern cam. If for any reason the shaft and chain are out of time the shaft will be advanced'step by step by the pawl as it is released by the successive lugs 67 until the low point 76 on the cam 74 registers with the contact piece on the guard lever, after which there will be no advance of the shaft by the pawl when released until the broad lug 67 is brought into active position and not only releases the pawl but also moves the guard into position to permit the pawl to en'g agel-the tooth of the ratchet wheel corresponding to the lug 67 on the pattern chain.

The pawl-carrying lever 62 is actuated from a continuously rotating cam 79 secured to the end of a shaft 80, which is connected with the crank gear 6 for actuating the oscillating segment of the mechanism for reciprocating the needle cylinder. The cam, therefore, makes one revolution and actuates the pawl during each complete bscillation of the segment or reciprocationof the needle cylinder during reciprocatory knitting, and during each four revolutions of the cylinder during rotary knitting. The cam is engaged by a cam lever 81 which is connected by a link 82 with the pawl-carrying lever. A spring 83 connected with the pawl-carrying lever tends to retract the pawl andholds the cam lever in engagement with the cam. Each time the pawl is retracted the end of the"'pawl rides against a fixed stud 84 arranged to swing the pawl about its pivot and maintain it in position 'for the re-engagement of'the latch 64 with the lug 65.

Since the various changes controlled or dictated by the pattern mechanism should occur at varying points in the revolution or reciprocation of the. needle cylinder the pawl-actuating cam 7.9 is preferably provided with a plurality of rises or steps properly distributed along the periphery of the cam togive to the pawl a series of short and rapid advance movements timed with rela tion to the movements ofthe needle cylinder to coincide with the points at which the changes dictated by the pattern mechanism should be effected. This multiple step advance movement of the pawl not only en ables the changes to be accurately timed without the necessity of extreme accuracy in the positioning of the controlling cams but also enables the cams to'be more compactly arranged about the periphery of a drum on which they are mounted so that the diameter of the drum may be materially reduced. This-feature, in connection with the variation in the lengths of the teeth of the ratchet wheel engaged by the pawl, en-

ables the movements imparted to the pattern drum to be so selectively controlled as -to reduce theidle movement of the drum and consequently enables the diameter 'of the drum to be further reduced.

In making certain changes as, for instance, in changingthe yarns it may be desirable, under varying conditions, to vary the interval between two successive advance steps of the pattern drum pawl andimeans is therefore provided for varying the relative positions of successive rises on the cam 79. In

the construction shown the pattern drum is advanced by the step on the cam indicated at 84 to insert a new yarn and after a short interval is again advanced by the step 85 to withdraw an active yarn. In order thatthe lap of the yarns may be varied-the rise 84: is formed by a plate adjustably secured to the main cam 7 9 and movable thereon to vary the position of the rise 84: with relation to the rise 85.'

The pattern chain is advanced a step, for. Y each revolution of the shaft '80, and there- I fore a step for each four revolutions of the by a cam 86 secured to the needle cylinder,

a pawl-carrying lever shaft 80 and engaging 87. A pawl "88 is pivoted on the lever and is held by a spring 89 in engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 90 which is secured to the upper pattern chainsprocket wheel 91. A stop pawl 92 prevents reverse movement of the ratchet wheel.

' To enable the cams of the pattern mechanism to be accurately and conveniently positioned with relation to each other and withfrom the form of thin metal disks which may be split or stamped from sheet metal and to enable each disk to be readily removed or replaced by one having a different contour the disks are made in two half-sections.

As shown in Fig. 3 the pattern drum 93 is secured to the shaft 24 by a pin '94 and is provided with a keyway 95 for circumfers entiallypositioning the cam disks, and with aflang 96 against which the assembled cam disks are held by a nut 97. The two cam disks 98 which may carry the cams for con trolling the motion changing clutch are comparatively thick one-piece disks, the outer one of which is recessed to receive theflange 96. The cam disk 98 at thecother end of the drum, which may be provided with the cams for controlling the pickers, is alsoa comparatively thick one-piece disk. The intermediate cam disks 99 which may include the cams for actuating the yarn changers to insert and, withdraw the various yarns, the cam for controlling the loosening of. the stitch during the knitting in of a splicing yarn, and the cam for controlling the leveling of the needles when knitting half hose consist of thin metal disks which are split or formed in two half sections as indicated in Fig. 1 so that any disk may be removed and I tion on the drum one kind to another are preferably in replaced without removing the others and without disturbing. the pattern drum or its shaft. I The disks are provided with keys fitting within the keyway 95.to accurately position the disks circumferentially on the 7 drum and they are spaced from each other by spacer diskslOO. The assembled disks are bound together and held in axial posiby the nut 97 and flange 96, between which they are clamped by tightening the nut. Overrunning of the cam shaft under the influence of its actuating pawl may be prevented by a friction spring 101 which is forced a ain'st a friction washer 102 within the end 0% the drum by a washer 103 and nut 104. The spring and washer 103 are held against rotation by a fixed pin 105. e

While it is preferred to employ thespecific construction shown and descrlbed in embodying the invention in the machine of the application above referred to it will be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential to the broader features of the invention but may be varied or modified as found desirable or best suited to the construction and mode of operation of the machine in which it is to be embodied.

What is claimed is:

1. A knitting machine having, in combination, a pattern mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel having teeth of different lengths, an actuating pawl, a guard for determining' the tooth engaged by the pawl when'permitted to engage the ratchet, separate means for normally holding the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet, and meansmoving with the ratchetwheel for controlling the position of the guard.

2. A knitting machine having, in combi- 105 nation, a pattern mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel, an actuating pawl, a guard for determining the tooth engaged by the pawl when thrown into action, separate means for normally holding the pawl out of action, and means moving with the ratchet wheel for controlling the guard.

3. A knitting machine having, in combination, a pattern mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel having teeth of different lengths, a. reciprocating actuating pawl normally held out of action, a guard for controlling the engagement of the pawl with the ratchet teeth after it is thrown into action, and a cam connected with the ratchet 12b wheel for varying the position of the guard.

4. A knitting machine having, in combination, a pattern mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel, an actuating pawl normally held out of action, a guard for controlling ,the engagement-of the pawl with the ratchet teeth after it is thrown into action, and a cam moving with the ratchet wheel for ositioning the guard during each step 0 the ratchet wheel to secure the engagement of &

. nation, a pattern mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel, a normally inactive actuating pawl, means for intermittently causing the pawl to act'on the ratchet wheel, and means moving with the ratchet wheel for varying the point in the reciprocation of the pawl at which it engages a tooth of the wheel in accordance with the length of movement to be imparted to the wheel.

7. A knitting machine having, in combin'ation,a pattern mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel, an actuating pawl, a latch for holding the pawl out of action, a pattern chain having-a series of lugs for tripping the latch, a guard. for controlling the engagement of'the pawl with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and means moving with the ratchet wheel for controlling the guard.

8. A knitting machine having, in combination, a pattern mechanism comprising'a ratchet wheel having teeth of difi'erent lengths, a reciprocating actuating pawl having a stroke greater than the'longestitoothf means for normally holding the pawl out o engagement with -the ratchet, a pattern the guard.

gage'the next tooth. of the ratchet wheel only mechanism for freeing the pawl, a guard for determining the tooth engaged by the pawl when free, and m ans moving with the ratchet wheel for controlling the position of 9. A knitting machine having, in combination, a pattern mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel, a reciprocating actuating pawl, a latch for normally holding the pawl out of engagement with-the ratchet wheel, ajguard for determining the tooth engaged by the pawl when released by the latch, means for positioning the guard for each active stroke ofthe pawl, and a pattern mechanism for operating the latch.

prising a ratchet wheel, a normally inactive actuating pawl, a guard for. controlling the engagement of the pawl with the teeth of the ratchet wheel after the pawl has been thrown into action, supplemental pattern mechanism for throwing the pawl into action to time the advance movements of the main pattern mechanism, means for positioning the guard to permit the pawl to enwhen the two pattern mechanisms are in proper timed relation. v

11. A knitting machine having, in combination, a main pattern mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel, a normally inactive actuating pawl, a guard for controlling the engagement of the pawl with the teeth of the ratchet wheel after the pawl has been throwninto action, means moving with the ratchet wheel for determining the position of the guard constructed to prevent engagement of the pawl with the ratchet teeth in a given position of the wheel, a supplemental pattern mechanism for intermittently rendering the pawl active to time the advance movement of the main pattern mechanism, and means operated by the supplemental pattern mechanism when in proper timed relation with the main pattern mechanism to position the guard to permit engagement of the pawl with the next tooth.

12. A knitting machine having,- in combination, a rotary knitting element, mechanism for rotating and oscillating said element, a pattern mechanism. comprising a ratchet wheel, an actuating pawl, a cam moving in time with the rotary element and having a plurality of rises to give the pawl ternmechanism, and means for adjustably varying the relative positions of successive for determining the circumferential position of each disk on'the drum, separating disks a series of. short rapid advance movements at points in the travel of the rotary element at which changes are dictated by the patbetween the cam disks, and means for binding the disks together and holding them in axial position on the drum.

14, A" pattern mechanism for dictating changes in the parts of a knitting machine comprising a drum, a series of cam disks each consisting of two half sections adapted to be fitted together about thedrum, means for-determining the circumferential position of'each disk on the drum, and means. for. securing the disks in position axially of the 10.. A knitting machine having, in combid nation, a main patternamechanism comrum.

-15. A pattern mechanism'for dictating.v

the cam disks,and a nut for clamping the assembled disks against the flange on the drum.

MAX '0'. MILLER. 

